McLaren P1 Undergoes Testing in the Hot and Dry Deserts of America

McLaren P1 made its world debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, but McLaren is still pretty busy testing it. The latest tests were made in extreme conditions, through deserts of Arizona, California and Nevada. These deserts are famous for their record temperatures of 52°C / 126°F. The tests will continue in the upcoming weeks, as McLaren wants to be sure the P1 will behave as expected in any driving conditions.

This is the first time we’ve seen a fully exposed and undisguised P1, plus it wears a Carbon Black finish — the first time we see the supercar in this color. On top of that sexy, dark paintwork, this P1 is equipped with a bespoke braking system and tires developed in cooperation with
Akebono and Pirelli.

Deliveries of the P1 supercar will begin this September, just in time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of McLaren. As a reminder, the P1 will be limited to only 375 units.

Click past the jump to watch the McLaren P1 in action under extreme desert conditions.

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Press Release

The testing programme for the McLaren P1™ has continued at a relentless pace throughout the summer, and in the latest short film from McLaren Automotive, the production-intent McLaren P1™ is shown testing in some of the harshest and most challenging conditions. With first deliveries scheduled in the coming weeks, the development team have been pushing the limits of the car to further extremes across North America, in some of the hottest and most arid conditions on the planet.

Finished all in Carbon Black, the sleek and menacing-looking McLaren P1™ is captured on the road undisguised for the first time, working through a number of final durability tests before the first of the limited run of 375 models is delivered to customers. The extreme temperature testing saw the McLaren P1™ pushed to the limits, experiencing heat in excess of 52°C / 126°F through Arizona, California and Nevada, as the western coast of America experienced some of the hottest temperatures on record.

The McLaren P1™ is the culmination of 50 years of race-winning technology and expertise, and is proudly described as ‘everything the company has ever done’. From the outset, the goal for the McLaren P1™ was clear: to be the best driver’s car on road and track. For this reason, the hot weather testing programme has not been confined only to the challenging road surfaces of America’s west coast, as the team push the boundaries of all systems and components on track in blistering heat.

Throughout the hot weather testing phase, and the development programme as a whole, McLaren Automotive has worked closely with its technical partners to develop and engineer bespoke products and solutions for a car that challenges what has been produced previously, redefining the boundaries for high performance cars. Through close collaboration with Akebono and Pirelli, the levels of performance and capabilities of the McLaren P1™ are optimised. The bespoke braking system and tyres are among the most advanced of any road car ever produced.

September is the 50th anniversary of McLaren, and will see the first deliveries of the McLaren P1™ commencing in the coming weeks as celebrations continue.